A policeman giving evidence said Mr Appleton came to the Dutton Park station and played him the recording, identifying it as coming from Mr McEwan.

In his opening address, crown prosecutor David Meredith said Ms Ban had set out on foot from Roma Street Parkland at about 4am, en-route to a shift as a hotel cleaner on George Street.

The court has heard it is not in contention that Mr McEwan killed Ms Ban, but the trial is necessary to determine his mental state at the time and whether or not relevant legal defences, such as insanity, apply.